Samuel Sukhnandan and Saskia Warrick
The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) resumed its examination of the 2019 Auditor General’s report on Monday, focusing on concerning discrepancies regarding millions of unaccounted drugs and medical supplies.
The session saw members advocating for a thorough investigation into the matter.
Under the previous APNU/AFC government in 2019, the Region Two administration reportedly received approximately $98 million worth of drugs and medical supplies, despite having paid for supplies totaling $210 million.
While the Auditor General’s report indicated that the entire sum had been expended, a subsequent statement of reconciliation in 2020 revealed that only $98.594 million worth of deliveries were recorded, with no mention of the remaining balance.
Former Region Two REO, Dennis Jaikarran, acknowledged efforts to address this discrepancy, including consultations with the Ministry of Health for reconciliation.
However, the missing drugs were never received, raising concerns about accountability and transparency in the procurement process.
PAC member Minister Gail Teixeira called for a special investigation into the matter, emphasizing that similar issues had occurred in 2020.
She proposed convening a meeting involving the Auditor General, Financial Secretary, Ministry of Health, and relevant regional authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation, suggesting that the Auditor General may need to spearhead a special inquiry into affected regions.
This call for investigation comes amidst several financial breaches flagged by the PAC during its examination of the Auditor General’s report for the period under review, underscoring the need for accountability and oversight in the management of public funds.